Banana Mag

Banana Mag (2025 Edition) – A Playful Provocation

In a bold and witty reinterpretation of the infamous banana taped to the wall by Maurizio Cattelan, Bran transforms an AK-47 magazine into a striking, banana-yellow sculpture. More than just a visual pun, Banana Mag playfully engages with Cattelan’s Comedian, which challenged perceptions of value and meaning in contemporary art. Bran builds upon this discourse, exploring the absurdity of art markets, viral fame, and the fine line between satire and serious critique.

Painted in a hyper-realistic banana texture, this vibrant yellow AK-47 magazine is more than an eye-catching sculpture—it’s a statement. The juxtaposition of something playful and organic with an object of violence forces the viewer to confront the contradictions in modern culture: how easily media distractions overshadow urgent global crises, and how symbols of nourishment and destruction can coexist in the same frame.

Bran also embeds historical weight into Banana Mag, referencing the "Banana Wars"—a series of U.S. military interventions in Central America and the Caribbean, driven by corporate control over the banana trade. Through this, the artwork subtly asks: how can something as simple as a banana carry echoes of conflict, exploitation, and power struggles?

With Banana Mag, Bran masterfully blends humour with critique, tipping his hat to Cattelan while infusing his own sharp perspective. This one-of-a-kind artwork invites us to rethink what we value, what we ignore, and how art—whether a banana or an AK-47 magazine—can provoke deeper conversations.